Leeds family terrified by violent driver

AN angry driver caused £4,000 worth of damage to a Mercedes-Benz after forcing a motorist off the road in a road rage incident, a court heard.

Troy Ross kicked the side of the vehicle and wing mirrors as the victim, his wife and baby daughter looked on in terror.

Leeds Crown Court heard Ross, 27, caused the collision with his victim’s car after “cutting him up” as the vehicles drove along Barwick Road in Leeds. Ross, 27, had lost his temper and tried to blame the victim despite causing the incident on August 21 last year.

Ross, of Pigeoncote Road, Seacroft, got out of his vehicle and challenged the victim about the incident before attacking his car.

He denied any wrongdoing but was found guilty of driving without due care and criminal damage after a trial.

The court heard the victim had been forced to get rid of his vehicle as it was too costly to repair. He has so far not received an insurance payout or compensation from Ross.

Ross has previous convictions for road rage offences. One involved shouting a “torrent” of racial abuse as a council worker driving a road sweeping van.

Sentencing Ross, Recorder Andrew Haslam said: “When you gave evidence to the jury in you trial you came clean about your inability to control your temper and this is yet another example of it Mr Ross, and it can’t go on. You have a very bad record for violence.”

Ross was made the subject of a 12-month community order and told he must do 200 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to the victim.

Allan Armbrister said Ross had been upset to learn of the distress he had caused the baby.

He said the father-of-two was now receiving treatment to control his anger.

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